ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Education
Reform in M.Tech. programmes of IITs
The Ministry of Human Resource Developments has issued a clarification regarding the news relating to the hike in the fee of M. Tech programme in IITs. The HRD Ministry has clarified that the decision of the Council of IITs to accept the recommendations of a three Member Committee on reforms in the M.Tech. programmes in IITs is based on the following facts:-
- There is no fee hike for the existing students.
- For new admissions, hike will be gradual over a period of three years or more, as will be decided by the respective Board of Governors of IITs.
- Needy students will be provided necessary financial support.
- All concessions and scholarships for SC/ST/OBC and others will continue without change.
- The fee hike will discourage non-serious students, who after a few months of stay in IITs, leave the programme midway to take up employment or to prepare for competitive exams.
- This drop out in the middle of the programme leads to wastage of coveted seats on the one hand and denies opportunity to other serious and meritorious students, on the other.
- IITs will offer only those programmes that have demand in the market. This will ensure immediate placement after completion of the course.
- Good and deserving students will be provided Teaching Assistantship/Scholarship.
- The fee for the M.Tech. programmes in IITs have not been revised for a long time whereas the cost per student has gone up substantially.
The Ministry has assured to all future students who will come to study at IITs that no student will be deprived of opportunity for education because of weak financial condition.
Special Service and Features
Salient Features of Flag Code of India, 2002
1. The Indian National Flag represents the hopes and aspirations of the people of India. It is the symbol of our national pride and there is universal affection and respect for, and loyalty to, the National Flag. It occupies a unique and special place in the emotions and psyche of the people of India.
2. The hoisting/use/display of the Indian National Flag is governed by the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 and the Flag Code of India, 2002. Some of salient features of the Flag Code of India, 2002 are listed below for the information of the public:
a) The Flag Code of India, 2002 was amended vide Order dated 30 December, 2021 and National Flag made of polyester or machine made Flag have been allowed. Now, the National Flag shall be made of hand spun and hand woven or machine made, cotton/polyester/wool/silk khadi bunting.
b) A member of public, a private organization or an educational institution may hoist/display the National Flag on all days and occasions, ceremonial or otherwise, consistent with the dignity and honour of the National Flag.
c) The Flag Code of India, 2002 was amended vide Order dated 19th July, 2022 and clause  of paragraph 2.2 of Part-II of the Flag Code of India was replaced by the following clause:
 "where the Flag is displayed in open or displayed on the house of a member of public, it may be flown day and night;"
d) The National Flag shall be rectangular in shape. The Flag can be of any size but the ratio of the length to the height  of the Flag shall be 3:2.
e) Whenever the National Flag is displayed, it should occupy the position of honour and should be distinctly placed.
f) A damaged or dishevelled Flag shall not be displayed.
g) The Flag should not be flown from a single masthead simultaneously with any other flag or flags.
h) The Flag should not be flown on any vehicle except of the dignitaries mentioned in Section IX of Part III of the Flag Code, such as President, Vice-President, Prime-Minister, Governors etc.
i) No other flag or bunting should be placed higher than or abo side by side with the National Flag.
Note: For further details, the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 and the Flag Code of India, 2002 are available on the Ministry of Home Affairs' website www.mha.gov.in
(Visitor Counter : 8
Ministry of Defence
NCC all set for a major expansion to cover 173 border and coastal districts
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has approved a proposal of the National Cadet Corps for a major expansion scheme to meet the aspirations of youth in all the border and coastal districts.
The proposals of the scheme were announced by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address on 15 Aug.
A total of one lakh cadets from 173 border and coastal districts will be inducted in the NCC. One-third of the Cadets would be girl Cadets. More than 1000 schools and colleges have been identified in border and coastal districts where NCC will be introduced.
As part of the expansion plan, a total of 83 NCC units will be upgraded , to impart NCC training to the cadets in the border and coastal areas.
Army will provide training and administrative support to the NCC units located in the border areas, Navy shall provide support to NCC units in the coastal areas and similarly Air Force will provide support to the NCC units located close to the Air Force stations.
This will not only provide exposure to the youth of the border and coastal areas to military training and disciplined way of life but will also motivate them to join the armed forces.
The NCC expansion plan will be implemented in partnership with the States.
Prime Minister's Office
PM greets nation on the occasion of Vijayadashmi
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the nation on the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashmi.“विजयादशमी के शुभ अवसर पर सभी देशवासियों को हार्दिक बधाई”, “Vijayadashami greetings to everyone”, the Prime Minister said.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Transplantation of Human Organs & Tissues Act , 1994 provides for regulation of removal, storage and transplantation of human organs & tissues for therapeutic purposes
National Organ Transplant Program  implemented to establish a network of organ and tissue transplant organizations at national, regional and state level; to link them with transplant & retrieval hospitals and tissue banks
National Registry of organ & tissue donors and recipients to provide an efficient system for procurement and distribution of organs & tissues from deceased donors
The Transplantation of Human Organs & Tissues Act , 1994 provides for regulation of removal, storage and transplantation of human organs & tissues for therapeutic purposes and for prevention of commercial dealings in human organs & tissues. The subject of artificial organs is not regulated under the aforesaid Act.
As reported by Directorate General of Health Services, there has been an overall increase in lifestyle diseases like Diabetes, Hypertension, Chronic Kidney Disease, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver disease in the past decade, which may cause organ damage. Once the end stage organ failure occurs, such cases may require organ transplants.
The Government of India has implemented National Organ Transplant Program  to establish a network of organ and tissue transplant organizations at national, regional and state level and to link them with transplant & retrieval hospitals and tissue banks and to maintain a national registry of organ & tissue donors and recipients for the purpose to provide an efficient system for procurement and distribution of organs & tissues from deceased donors. Under the program, support is provided to establish new or to upgrade existing organ & tissue transplant and retrieval facilities and to establish tissue banks.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Defence
AIR MARSHAL PANKAJ MOHAN SINHA ASSUMES COMMAND OF IAF’S WESTERN AIR COMMAND
Air Marshal Pankaj Mohan Sinha assumed command of the Indian Air Force’s Western Air Command on 01 January 2023.
The Air Marshal is a graduate of National Defence Academy, Pune and was commissioned into the IAF as a fighter pilot in Jun 1985. He is an alumnus of the prestigious Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. An experienced fighter pilot, Category ‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor, Fighter Striker Leader, Instrument Rating Instructor & Examiner, Air Marshal Sinha has more than 4500 hours of flying experience.
In his service career spanning over 37 years, the Air Marshal has tenanted important command and staff appointments. These include Commanding Officer of a Fighter Squadron, Chief Instructor  at a flying station, Training Coordination Officer at Royal Air Force Valley, United Kingdom where he flew the Hawk aircraft, Principal Director Personnel Officers at Air Headquarters, Air Officer commanding of a prestigious Air Force Station, Air Assistant to Chief of the Air Staff and Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations  at Air Headquarters. He is the Commodore Commandant of a premier fighter Sqn and was Director General Air Operations at Air Headquarters prior to taking over the present appointment.
The Air Officer is a recipient of ‘Vishist Seva Medal’ and ‘Ati Vishist Seva Medal.
Air Marshal Pankaj Mohan Sinha succeeds Air Marshal S Prabhakaran who superannuated on 31 December 2022 after putting in more than 39 years of distinguished service in the IAF.
Ministry of Rural Development
Development of Rural Areas is one of the priorities of the Modi Government- Narendra Singh Tomar
National Awards Function of the Ministry of Rural Development for the year 2019 held in New Delhi
The big dream of India becoming a five trillion economy cannot be achieved without including villages. Stating this at the National Awards function of the Ministry of Rural Development, the Minister for Rural Development, Agriculture and Farmers welfare and Panchayati Raj Shri Narendra Singh Tomar said that development of villages has been one of the priorities of the Modi Government and the imbalance between Urban and Rural India has to be removed. He said that villages have to be self sufficient and Agriculture has to be made more profitable.
Shri Tomar conferred the awards to 266 awardees for achievements across various schemes of Ministry of Rural Development including- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme , Pradhan MantriAwaasYojana- Gramin , Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana , DeendayalAntyodayaYojana , DeenDayalUpadhyayGrameenKaushalyaYojana , Shyama Prasad MukherjiRurban Mission  and Training Division which operates all State Institute for Rural Development . The categories of awards span across: Best performing States, Districts, Blocks, Gram Panchayats, best employees and individuals with outstanding contributions.
Minister of State for Rural Development Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti also congratulated the Awardees and said that all the programmes run by the Rural Development Ministry have ensured the weaker sections living in rural areas have a pucca house to live in, an all weather road to reach the nearest facilities or markets, employment opportunities, pensions for old persons, widows and physically handicapped and training to impart skills.
On the occasion of the National Award Ceremony, the Union Minister launched a new website for PMAY-G. The new website is bilingual and also has a provision for screen reader for “divyangjan”, a grievance redressal mechanism along with a link for various social media platforms. It also has a dashboard for highlighting key achievements of PMAY-G. The Union Minister also launched a web portal and a mobile app for the Ease of Living Survey which highlights the improvement in the lives of rural India and will also help in creating benchmarks for different policy formulation purposes. The Union Minister also launched a “Disha” Software along with a book named “Jalsangraha” which highlights the water conservation experiences of MGNREGA. He also unveil guidelines regarding Cluster Facilitation Project and Unnati Project. Under Cluster Facilitation Project, the focus will be to provide rural livelihood under MGNREGA to aspirational and other backward regions of the country. Unnati project aims at providing training to unskilled MGNREGA labourers so that they move towards full time employment.
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
76 START-UPS ONBOARDED UNDER ‘INDIA WATER PITCH-PILOT-SCALE START-UP CHALLENGE’ BY MOHUA
START-UPS TO BE PROVIDED SUPPORT UP TO ₹ 20 LAKH EACH; TO WORK ON ISSUES OF WATER SUPPLY, MANAGEMENT AND WATER BODY REJUVENATION: HARDEEP SINGH PURI
MINISTRY LAUNCHES ‘PEY JAL SURVEKSHAN’ TOOLKIT TO ASSESS WATER QUALITY AND DELIVERY IN 485 CITIES
Seventy Six  start-ups have been onboarded under the ‘India Water Pitch-Pilot-Scale Start-Up Challenge’ by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs  at an event in New Delhi today. The shortlisted start-ups will be provided financial support of up to ₹ 20 lakh each to work in the fields of water supply, used water management, water body rejuvenation and ground water management etc., said Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs . Shri Kaushal Kishore, Minister of State for MoHUA, Shri Manoj Joshi , Ms. D.Thara and other dignitaries were present during the event.
The start-ups have been shortlisted by the Ministry through a challenge process launched in March, 2022 under AMRUT 2.0 Mission. In this regard, a ‘Startup Gateway’ has also been launched wherein the start-ups can apply and be shortlisted by MoHUA for financial support.
During the event, the Ministry also launched a Toolkit for ‘Pey Jal Survekshan’ in 485 cities. Pey Jal Survekshan, under the Jal Jeevan Mission, will assess cities with respect to the quality of water and the quality of water delivery to the citizens, along with sewerage, septage management, grievance redressal, water body conservation, ground water management etc.
The event also witnessed the awarding of 25 best photographs from the photography competition of the MoHUA, with an award of ₹ 10,000 each. The competition was conducted for students by the Ministry under ‘Mission Amrit Sarovar’ to spread awareness among masses about conservation of water bodies.
Later during the event, a portal Urban Waterbody Information System  was also launched with help from National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad. The portal will provide satellite images of water bodies to various cities to plan their rejuvenation. 219 cities have been handed over UWaIS dossiers of water bodies during the event.
Ministry of Communications
Extension of last date to receive comments/counter comments on TRAI’s Consultation Paper on ‘Regulatory Mechanism for Over-The-Top  Communication Services, and Selective Banning of OTT Services’
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India  released a Consultation Paper on 'Regulatory Mechanism for Over-The-Top  Communication Services, and Selective Banning of OTT Services' on 07.07.2023. The last date for receiving written comments on the issues raised in the Consultation Paper invited from stakeholders was fixed as 04.08.2023 and for counter comments by 18.08.2023.
On the request of stakeholders for extension of time for submission of comments, the last date for submission of written comments and counter comments was extended up to 18.08.2023 and 01.09.2023 respectively.
Keeping in view the request of stakeholders for further extension of time for submission of comments, it has been decided to extend the last date for submission of written comments and counter comments up to 01.09.2023 and 15.09.2023 respectively.
The comments/counter comments may be sent to Shri Akhilesh Kumar Trivedi, Advisor , TRAI, preferably in electronic form at advmn@trai.gov.in. For any clarification/ information, Shri Akhilesh Kumar Trivedi, Advisor , TRAI may be contacted at Telephone Number +91-11-23210481.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Centre rushes High Level multi-disciplinary team to Kerala for supporting the State in public health interventions and investigating for Monkey Pox outbreak
Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has rushed a high-level multi-disciplinary team to Kerala to collaborate with the State Health Authorities in instituting public health measures in view of the confirmed case of Monkey Pox in Kollam district of Kerala.
The Central team to Kerala comprises of experts drawn from National Center for Disease Control , Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi and senior official from Ministry of Health & Family Welfare along with experts from Regional Office of Health & Family Welfare, Kerala.
The team shall work closely with the State Health Departments and take a stock of on-ground situation and recommend necessary public health interventions. Govt of India is taking proactive steps by monitoring the situation carefully and coordinating with states in case of any such possibility of outbreak occurs.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Cabinet Secretary chairs NCMC meeting to review preparedness for cyclone “MAHA” over Lakshadweep area
A meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee , chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, Shri Rajiv Gauba, was held today to review the preparations for the cyclone over the Comorin and adjoining Lakshadweep Islands.
Cabinet Secretary took stock of the current situation and preparedness for rescue and relief operations and directed that immediate assistance, as required, be provided.
IMD informed that the Depression that had developed in the Comorin Sea, has now intensified into a Cyclonic storm. It is likely to cross Lakshadweep Islands by the noon of 31st October 2019 as a Severe Cyclonic Storm and emerge thereafter into the east Central Arabian Sea. Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, accompanied by winds reaching upto 90 to 100 kmph and tidal waves up to 1 mtr, are expected.
It was intimated by the Lakshadweep Administration that all necessary preparations have been made by them and fishermen have been recalled to the shore. People living in the low lying areas have been evacuated to shelter homes and are being provided food and water. Teams of Coast Guard and Indian Navy are on the standby for any eventuality.
Senior officials of the Ministries of Home, Defence, as well as those from IMD and NDRF, attended the meeting. Senior officers from the UT Administration participated in the meeting through Video Conference.
PIB Headquarters
Gold worth Rs. 82 lakhs seized by Customs at Chennai Airport
On Sunday one Musthak Ahamad,22, of Chennai who had arrived from Dubai by Emirates Airlines Flight EK542 was intercepted at exit of arrival hall. On his personal search one semi-finished crude gold chain weighing 49 grams valued at Rs.1.9 lakhs and one bundle of gold in rubbery paste was found concealed in his inner-garments. On extraction 249 grams valued at Rs. 9.71 lakhs was recovered from gold paste. Total 298 grams of gold valued at Rs. 11.6 lakhs was recovered and the same was seized under Customs Act 1962.
On Saturday night five passengers , Syed Sahul Hameed, 28, of Ramanathapuram, who arrived from Colombo by Srilankan Airlines Flight UL123, Rahman Khan, 21, of Ramanathapuram, who arrived from Colombo by Indigo Flight 6E1204, Riaz Mohamed, 31, from Tiruchirappalli had arrived from Kualalumpur by Air Asia Flight AK13, Rahamathullah, 23, from Tiruchirappalli who arrived from Kualalumpur by Batik Air Flight ID 6018 and Anjana Niraj Nelson, 37, of Srilanka who had arrived from Colombo by Srilankan Airlines flight UL 125, were intercepted at the exit. On persistent questioning all of them admitted to have concealed bundles containing gold in rubbery paste in rectum. Total fourteen bundles were recovered and 1.8 Kg gold valued at Rs.70.2 lakhs was recovered after extraction and same seized under Customs Act 1962.
Further investigation is in progress according to a press release issued by the Commissioner of Customs, Chennai International Airport.
Prime Minister's Office
PM expresses happiness over growing popularity of Lavender in J&K
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has shared a clip from his Mann Ki Baat where he highlighted the topic of Lavender.
Shri Modi was expressing happiness over growing popularity of Lavender in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Prime Minister tweeted in reply to a tweet by the Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh.
"Good to see Lavender becoming popular in Jammu and Kashmir. I had highlighted this topic during a recent #MannKiBaat programme as well. youtu.be/kkbQzipkqrA"
Finance Commission
Advisory Council of the 15th Finance Commission to meet on 23-24 April, 2020
The Economic Advisory Council of the Fifteenth Finance Commission will meet on 23-24 April, 2020. It will be an online meeting presided by Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission, Shri N. K. Singh and attended by all the Members and Senior Officials of the Finance Commission. The meeting will be attended by the 5 Members of the Council including Dr. Krishnamurthy Subramanian, Dr. Sajjid Z Chinoy, Dr. Prachi Mishra, Mr. Neelkanth Mishra and Dr. Omkar Goswami on 23rd April, 2020. The meeting with the remaining Members of the Council will be held on the next day i.e. 24th April, 2020.
The likely agenda for the Advisory Council Meeting is -
· Implications of the pandemic for GDP growth in 2020-21 and 2021-22. Uncertainty about macro variables over time.
· Possible assumptions for tax buoyancy and revenue in the current year and next year.
· What should be the public expenditure fillip to shore up the economy.
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
13- year old Sunidhi Jangid from Rajasthan sows seeds of sanitation into her peers’ hearts and minds
Educates people about sustainable ways of management of used sanitary pads
Creating a safe and secure environment for its future generations is a fundamental requirement that every nation should strive to fulfil. The Swachh Bharat Mission is one such initiative which is designed to create a safe, hygienic, clean and garbage free India for the upcoming generations to thrive and prosper in. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clarion call for a clean India, citizens from all spheres of life have joined and are driving the swachhata movement.
It is a delight to see young kids take centre stage and assume a leadership role. Sunidhi Jangid in Rajasthan’s Kekdi Nagar Parishad is one such young leader and Swachhata Ambassador whose efforts for the local swacchata movement have attracted everyone’s attention. She has led by example and spread awareness among masses to galvanize her peers as well as elders to join the campaign.13-year-old Sunidhi Jangid is a Class 8 student in Kekdi town. She has been carrying out information, education and communication activities among her fellow students to sow the seeds of sanitation into her peers’ hearts and minds at an early age.Playing her part as a Swachh Bharat Ambassador since the Swacchotsav in March 2023, Sunidhi has educated people about sustainable ways of management of used sanitary pads, thus breaking social barriers.
Sunidhi communicated her ideas and thoughts to local residents and students at the Indian Swachhata League 2.0 under the Swacchata Pakhwada- Swachhata Hi Seva campaign on 17th September 2023. Over 500 people participated in various activities held under ISL 2.0 and the event was presided over by Kekdi Municipal Council head MrKamlesh Kumar Sahu. Sunidhi was so confident about her mission for swachhata that she addressed such a large gathering and was so articulate while educating the crowd about best practices for sanitation including door-to-door collection of waste, making compost from wet waste, boycotting single-use plastic, used sanitary pad management, source segregation of waste among others. In the end, Sunidhi recited a song ‘Mhane Saaf Safai Pyari Lage’  written by her with the lyrics defining what Swachhatais all about and how much it matters to all of us. Young guns like Sunidhi are the flag-bearers of change and will go a long way in making India garbage-free.